Facade assembly, building structure and method for mounting the facade assembly

ABSTRACT

In a facade assembly ( 14 ) for a building ( 10 ) with at least one facade element ( 16 ), which can be fastened to a wall or an inter-story ceiling ( 12 ) of the building ( 10 ), and with at least one fire-protection element ( 18 ), which can be mounted between the facade element ( 16 ) and the wall or the inter-story ceiling ( 12 ), the fire-protection element ( 18 ) has at least one fire-protection course ( 32 ) of an intumescent material. 
     Furthermore, a method for mounting such a facade assembly is provided, as is a building structure using the facade assembly.

The invention relates to a facade assembly for a building with at least one facade element, which can be fastened to a wall or a ceiling of the building, and with at least one fire-protection element, which can be mounted between the facade element and the wall. The invention further relates to a building structure using the facade assembly and to a method for mounting such a facade assembly.

Curtain facades that consist of individual facade elements, which are fastened to a shell of a building, are frequently used in the building sector. As an example, the shell is manufactured in skeleton form and the facade elements constitute the exterior skin of the building, in which case the facade elements take over the function of a wall construction. The individual facade elements usually have a substructure, for example a framework, by means of which the facade elements are fastened to the shell, in which case the individual facade elements bear only their own weight and have no static functions. These facade elements may take over insulating functions as well as stylistic functions for the exterior skin.

On the back side, the facade elements frequently have a cladding, which consists of steel sheet, for example. Joints sealed by insulating material, comprising mineral wool in the prior art, are usually present between the shell and the facade elements, in order to prevent propagation of fire behind the facade elements in the event of fire. These insulating elements are disposed at the height of the inter-story ceilings, so that spreading of the fire from one story to another story is prevented, in which case the fire-protection elements are also able to take over further insulating functions, such as sound protection, for example.

In the event of fire, however, the facade elements may expand and become deformed. Especially for facade elements with a sheet-metal element on the back side, large deformations of the sheet-metal elements and thus of the facade elements may occur. These deformations may cause the joint between the wall or the ceiling and the facade element to become so large that the insulating element is no longer able to fill the joint between the facade element and the wall or the ceiling completely and seal it against fire or smoke.

From U.S. Pat. No. 7,856,775 B2, it is known to fix an additional mineral-wool block on the steel sheet underneath the insulating element filling the joint. The additional mineral-wool block is intended to close the gap that develops in the event of fire. However, the attachment of the additional mineral-wool block necessitates tasks at ladder height in the floor underneath the insulating element and thus leads to a higher risk of injury as well as additional time requirements.

The object of the invention is to provide a facade assembly that permits better sealing of the joint between facade element and wall or ceiling in the event of fire and thus provides better fire protection and can be mounted with little working effort.

The object is achieved by providing a facade assembly for a building, with at least one facade element, which can be fastened to a wall or a ceiling of a building, and with at least one fire-protection element, which can be mounted between the facade element and the wall or the ceiling, wherein, according to the invention, the fire-protection element has at least one fire-protection course of an intumescent material. The intumescent material foams up under the effect of heat, and so it is able to fill any joint that develops in the event of fire or that is already present between facade element and wall or ceiling. Thereby reliable protection against propagation of fire and/or smoke is provided. Since the intumescent material has a very small volume in the non-activated condition, it can be used even in very narrow joints present between facade element and wall or ceiling in the regular installation condition.

The facade element is known in principle from the prior art. Preferably the facade element is designed as a curtain facade, with a frame construction, preferably of steel or aluminum, an outer covering, which is joined to the frame construction and can be formed from glass, ceramic, metal or natural stone. Cladding, preferably formed from steel sheet, is provided on the back side of the covering, which in the installed condition faces the building. A deadening or insulating layer, for example of mineral wool or foam, can be provided between the exterior covering and the cladding.

The fire-protection element may additionally have an insulating layer, especially a mineral-wool insulating layer, particularly preferably a compressed mineral-wool insulating layer. The insulating layer is able to establish sealing of the joint in the regular installation condition, i.e. when the intumescent material has not foamed up, and so the quantity of the intumescent material, i.e. the thickness of the fire-protection course can be reduced. In addition, the insulating layer is able to prevent or reduce penetration of smoke or fire before the intumescent material swells up, so that even better protection against propagation of fire and/or smoke is provided. The insulating layer is preferably designed such that the fire-protection element fills and seals the joint in the regular installation condition.

The insulating layer and the fire-protection course can be disposed in any desired manner relative to one another, as long as it is ensured that complete sealing of the joint will be achieved by the intumescent material as it foams up in the event of fire.

Preferably the at least one fire-protection course of intumescent material is disposed between the insulating layer and the facade element, i.e. directly on the facade element. In this way, the facade element being deformed and forced away from the wall or the ceiling is sealed against the insulating layer, whereby reliable sealing of the entire joint is achieved.

As an example, the fire-protection course may be fastened to the facade element, for which purpose any desired types of chemical or mechanical fastening are possible, for example adhesive bonding or fastening with additional fixation elements such as rivets or screws.

According to the invention, it is sufficient that a fire-protection course of an intumescent material be present. In order to permit better sealing of the joint, however, several fire-protection courses of intumescent material may also be provided. As an example, they may be disposed over the entire width of the joint, so that reliable sealing of the joint takes place in the event of fire. Alternatively, however, the fire-protection courses may also be disposed in such a way that they are forced away from one another in the event of fire, whereby even a larger gap can be closed.

In addition, it is conceivable that the fire-protection courses are joined flexibly to one another, so that they are movable relative to one another but nevertheless complete sealing of the joint is achieved. In particular, the fire-protection courses can be folded in single, multiple or accordion-like manner, in which case, in the event of fire, they can be forced away from one another due to foaming up and thus can be forced further into a broader joint before they foam up completely.

In order to ensure the stability of the fire-protection element with foamed-up fire-protection courses, preferably at least one retaining element is disposed on or in the fire-protection courses, thus imparting a more stable structure to the fire-protection element. In particular, the retaining element may consist of a glass-fiber fabric. This offers the advantage that it is flexible in the non-activated condition of the fire-protection courses, so that flexible joining of the fire-protection courses among one another can also be achieved by the glass-fiber fabric. In the event of fire, or after heating and subsequent cooling, the glass fibers are integrated into the ash crust and form, for the fire-protection courses, a stable retaining structure, which is also able to withstand greater forces, for example when impacted by extinguishing water.

In order to prevent damage to the fire-protection element during mounting or during construction of the building, a protective layer that at least partly covers the fire-protection element is optionally provided. As an example, this protective layer may consist of an elastic material such as a curable acrylic dispersion, which is able to even out the temperature-induced expansions of the building or of the facade assembly.

Further subject matter of the invention is a building, with at least one wall and/or one inter-story ceiling and at least one facade element, which is fastened to a wall or an inter-story ceiling, wherein a joint is formed between the facade element and the wall or the inter-story ceiling, and with at least one fire-protection element, which is mounted in the region of the joint between the facade element and the wall or the inter-story ceiling, wherein the fire-protection element has at least one fire-protection course of an intumescent material.

The facade element and the fire-protection element form the above-described facade assembly to which reference is made.

The object is further solved by a method for mounting a facade assembly for a building, with at least one facade element, which is fastened to a wall or a ceiling of the building and is mounted with at least one fire-protection element, which is mounted between the facade element and the wall or the ceiling, wherein the fire-protection element has at least one fire-protection course of an intumescent material, with the following steps:

-   -   Attachment of the facade element to the wall or the inter-story         ceiling of the building, wherein a joint is formed between the         facade element and the wall or the inter-story ceiling,     -   Attachment of the fire-protection element to the facade element         and/or to the wall or the inter-story ceiling of the building in         the region of the joint.

Preferably an insulating layer, especially a mineral-wool insulating layer, is additionally mounted as part of the fire-protection element between the facade element and the wall or ceiling, wherein the insulating layer in particular is disposed substantially at the same height as the fire-protection course. Preferably the insulating layer is compressed, so that it is able to expand upon a slight deformation of the facade element and at least partly close the resulting joint.

In order to protect the fire-protection element and to seal it against propagation of smoke, a protective layer, especially of an elastic material, is preferably applied, wherein the protective layer covers the fire-protection element at least partly, preferably completely.

It is particularly advantageous when all tasks for mounting of the inventive facade assembly can be performed on one building level, especially ground level.

Further advantages and features will become obvious from the description hereinafter in conjunction with the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view through a building with a facade assembly according to the prior art,

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view through a building with a first embodiment of a facade assembly according to the invention,

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view through a building with a second embodiment of a facade assembly according to the invention,

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view through a building with a third embodiment of a facade assembly according to the invention,

FIG. 5 shows a detail view of the facade assembly from FIG. 4.

FIG. 1 shows a section of a building 10′ with an inter-story ceiling 12′. A facade assembly 14′ is hung in curtain style on the exterior of building 10′.

Facade assembly 14′ consists of a facade element 16′ as well as a fire-protection element 18′, which is disposed in a joint 20′ between inter-story ceiling 12′ and facade element 16′. Fire-protection element 18′ consists here of an insulating layer 19′, for example of mineral wool.

Facade element 16′ forms an exterior wall construction or the facade of building 10′ and has a substructure, not illustrated in detail here, for example a framework, on which the individual elements of the exterior facade, for example wall elements, windows as well as insulating layers, are retained. The substructure serves for fastening of facade elements 16′ on building 10′.

Facade assembly 14′ serves stylistic purposes and/or protection of building 10′, wherein exterior side 22′ of such a facade element 16′ can be configured in any desired manner, especially as a function of viewpoints related to style and/or building physics. As an example, exterior side 22′ may have elements of glass, ceramic, metal or other suitable materials.

Facade assembly 14′ or facade elements 16′ bear only their own weight and have no static function for building 10′.

On back side 24′ facing building 10′, cladding is provided, which may be part of the interior wall of building 10′ and consists here of steel sheet 26′. This steel sheet 26′ may be part of the substructure or may form merely the interior closure of the facade element.

By virtue of fire-protection element 18′ provided between inter-story ceiling 12′ and facade element 16′ penetration of smoke and fire from a region below inter-story ceiling 12′ into the region above inter-story ceiling 12′ in the event of fire is prevented, and so the propagation of a fire can be prevented or at least slowed.

Due to the high temperatures occurring during a fire, however, deformation of facade element 16′, especially of steel sheet 26′, may occur (see dashed line in FIG. 1). This deformation may cause a gap 30′, through which penetration of smoke or fire is possible, to develop between fire-protection element 18′ and facade element 16′. This means that fire-protection element 18′ is not able to fulfill its fire-protection function completely if facade element 16′ becomes badly deformed.

In order to eliminate this disadvantage, facade assembly 14 shown in FIG. 2 is provided. The basic design of building 10 with an inter-story ceiling 12 as well as curtain-type facade element 16 corresponds substantially to the design shown in FIG. 1.

As a supplement to insulating layer 19, however, fire-protection element 18 additionally has a fire-protection course 32, which consists of an intumescent material. In the embodiment shown here, fire-protection course 32 is disposed between insulating layer 19 and facade element 16 and in particular is directly fastened on steel sheet 26 of facade element 16.

In the event of fire, the intumescent material of fire-protection course 32 swells up, and so increases its volume. Thereby gap 30 formed between insulating layer 19 and facade element 16 can be closed, so that reliable fire protection is ensured even if facade element 16 becomes deformed.

In the embodiment shown here, insulating layer 19 is fastened on inter-story ceiling 12, whereas fire-protection course 32 is fastened on facade element 16, in which case the fastening may have the form of a frictional, interlocking and/or substance-to-substance joint, obtained by mechanical or chemical types of fastening, for example. Both insulating layer 19 and fire-protection course 32 are fastened at the height of inter-story ceiling 12.

As soon as facade element 16 becomes deformed due to the intense heat during a fire, gap 30 is developed. Fire-protection course 32, which is located in this gap 30 due to the positioning on facade element 16, will be exposed to the heat, and so rapid foaming up of fire-protection course 32 and thus sealing of gap 30 take place.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, fire-protection course 32 ends flush on its underside with insulating layer 19, and so is directly exposed to the rising heat in the event of heat generation, so that foaming up of fire-protection course 32 can take place without further delay in the event of heat generation, for example even before a gap 30 is formed.

Preferably fire-protection course 32 extends beyond insulating layer 19 or projects out from it, so that even faster activation of the intumescent material can occur.

Regardless of this, however, first-protection layer 32 may be positioned in any desired way, as long as foaming-up of the intumescent material is able to close a gap 30 being formed. Alternatively, it is also conceivable, for example, for fire-protection course 32 to be fastened to the underside of insulating layer 19.

According to a further embodiment, fire-protection element 18 consists only of at least one fire-protection course 32 of intumescent material without an additional insulating layer 19 of mineral wool.

A second embodiment of an inventive facade assembly 14 is shown in FIG. 3. Therein several fire-protection courses 32 spaced apart in vertical direction are provided at the height of inter-story ceiling 12 and are respectively fastened on steel sheet 26 of facade element 16. They are able to foam up individually, so that, depending on the heat generation and the deformation of facade element 16, better sealing of gap 30 is possible.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, two fire-protection courses 32 are disposed parallel to one another and are flexibly joined to one another along an edge 34. In the event of fire, the expanding intumescent material forces fire-protection course 32, which is spaced apart from steel sheet 26, away in clockwise direction around edge 34 from fire-protection course 32 bearing on steel sheet 26, so that fire-protection courses 32 spaced apart from steel sheet 26 already penetrate further into gap 30 before they foam up completely. In this way a larger gap 30 can be closed during the subsequent foaming-up of the intumescent material.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, fire-protection courses 32 in this embodiment are joined to one another by a retaining element 36. As an example, retaining element 36 consists of a glass-fiber fabric, which has high flexibility. In the event of fire, the glass-fiber fabric becomes heated and hardens during the subsequent cooling, so that a stable stiffening structure is formed for fire-protection element 18, with the result that fire-protection courses 32 are reliably fixed and gap 30 is closed. Thus fire-protection element 18 is also able, for example, to withstand the impact of extinguishing water.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, retaining element 36 extends into fire-protection courses 32, so that a stable frictional and interlocking bond is formed with retaining element 36.

Alternatively, it is also conceivable for retaining element 36 to be adhesively bonded to the exterior of fire-protection courses 32, thus forming additional protection for fire-protection courses 32.

As can be further seen in FIG. 4, an elastic protective layer 38 is provided that covers the entire fire-protection element 18 externally, so that fire-protection element 18 is reliably protected against mechanical stress and strain. 

1. A facade assembly for a building, comprising: at least one facade element which can be fastened to a wall or an inter-story ceiling of the building, and at least one fire-protection element which can be mounted between the facade element and the wall or the inter-story ceiling, wherein the fire-protection element has at least one fire-protection course of an intumescent material.
 2. The facade assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fire-protection element has an insulating layer.
 3. The facade assembly according to claim 2, wherein the at least one fire-protection course is disposed between the insulating layer and the facade element.
 4. The facade assembly according to claim 1, wherein several fire-protection courses are provided.
 5. The facade assembly according to claim 4, wherein the fire-protection courses are joined flexibly to one another.
 6. The facade assembly according to claim 4, wherein at least one retaining element is disposed on or in the fire-protection courses.
 7. The facade assembly according to claim 1, wherein a protective layer is provided, which covers the fire-protection element at least partly.
 8. A building structure, comprising: at least one wall and/or one inter-story ceiling, and at least one facade element which is fastened to the wall or inter-story ceiling of the building, wherein a joint is formed between the facade element and the wall or the inter-story ceiling, and a fire-protection element which is mounted in the region of the joint between the facade element and the wall or the inter-story ceiling, wherein the fire-protection element has at least one fire-protection course of an intumescent material.
 9. A method for mounting a facade assembly to a building, the method comprising: attaching a facade element to a wall or an inter-story ceiling of the building, wherein a joint is formed between the facade element and the wall or the inter-story ceiling, attaching a fire-protection element to the facade element and/or to the wall or the inter-story ceiling of the building in a region of the joint.
 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein an insulating layer, is mounted between the facade element and the wall or the inter-story ceiling, wherein the insulating layer is disposed substantially at the same height as the fire-protection course.
 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein a protective layer is applied, wherein the protective layer covers the fire-protection element at least partly.
 12. The facade assembly according to claim 2, wherein the insulating layer is a mineral-wool insulating layer.
 13. The facade assembly according to claim 5, wherein the fire-protection courses can be folded in hinged or accordion-like manner.
 14. The facade assembly according to claim 6, wherein the at least one retaining element comprises a glass-fiber fabric.
 15. The facade assembly according to claim 7, wherein the protective layer comprises an elastic material.
 16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the insulating layer is a mineral-wool insulating layer.
 17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the protective layer comprises an elastic material. 